Children and the Mythos

Tale from a mailing list: I thought some of you on the list might enjoy this story (or cringe in horror). Cutesy story about my daughter to follow: Kate (4) decides she wants to pretend a mock Pokemon battle using her stuffed animals. The battle is Blue Kitty (standing in for Mew) vs... vs... no suitable contender. Stumped, she looks around the room and spots my green paisley Daddy Cthulhu I bought from Pagan Publishing when she was but an infant. Daddy Cthulhu was banned from her bedroom for being "too scary" and usually sits on top of my computer instead. "Mommy, I need that guy. That guy with the wings..." "Cthulhu?" "Yes, Cthulhu..." She scampers off to play out her Pokebattle, and I overhear the following: "Cthulhu, cthulhu...cthulhu!" "Don't worry, Cthulhu, it's just a battle." "Cthulhu! Cthulhu, cthulhu..." "It's ok, don't be scared. You'll do great." "Cthulhu!" "I love you too, Cthulhu. Now, battle!" You may now return to your regularly scheduled cynicism. :) Definitely breeding a future gamer, Nicole

Plush Cthulhu doll, from Pagan Publishing

Overview

     As perhaps a natural reaction to the fear and terror that knowledge of the Mythos brought, humanity responded with humor and childrens' programming. Cthulhu featured in a long running view series, Young Cthulhu. An oddly funny animation, it featured an archaeologist investigating the origins of Cthulhu. These investigations featured flashbacks to an awkward Cthulhu in high school, schoolyard fights between starspawn and chthonians, and cultists performing pratfalls and making melodramatic speaches. Future seasons of the show went in a variety of directions.
     Young Cthulhu soon became a series devoted to a gang of Mythos-like kids solving mysteries and beating up villains. A spin-off interactive started soon after, featuring the Cthulhu Babies. Cute, lovable horrors from beyond played bizarre interactive games with the viewer. The Puzzle of Diaper-Ra was one of the most successful interactive games aimed at the children's market.
     Arguments raged throughout the Endtimes about whether such programming was harmful or beneficial. Many feared that such exposure would weaken any foundation of sanity, not giving children a chance to develop any resistance to the influence of the Mythos. Others countered that by converting the Mythos into an understandable and simplified form, children could learn to process the Mythos in a healthy way. The argument was never completely resolved.